Seven Wise Masters, The

Henry Chettle, John Day, Thomas Dekker, William Haughton (1600)

Historical Records

Payments to Playwrights (Henslowe Diary)

F. 67^v (Greg, I. 118)

Receaved of m^r hinchlowe the 1 march to paye to

harry chettell Thomas decker william hawton & John daye

for a boocke calld the 7 wise m^rs the some of ………. xl^s

W birde.

Lent vnto Samewell Rowly the 8 of march 1599

to paye vnto harey chettell & John daye in fulle

payment of a boocke called the vij wisse masters

the some of ………. l^s

Samuell Rowlye

F. 68 (Greg, I. 119)

Lent vnto hary chettell the 2 of march 1599

in earnest of a Boocke called the 7 wisse

masters the some of ………. xxx^s

Payments, Miscellaneous (Henslowe's Diary)

F. 68 (Greg, I. 119)

Receaued of M^r Henslowe to lay out for the playe of

the 7 wise M^rs in taffataes & sattyns the some of

in behalfe of the …….. by me Robt Shaa

Company ………. xx^ll

Receaued more of m^r Henshlowe to lay out

for the play of the 7 wise Maisters in behalf

of the Company ………. x^ll

Receaued more of M^r Henshlowe to lay out

for the play of the 7 wise maisters in behalf

of the Company ……….. viij^ll

by me Robt Shaa

Theatrical Provenance

The Admiral's men acquired "The Seven Wise Masters" in the spring of 1600, their first full year at the new Fortune playhouse. The payments of £38 for materials and other things suggests a relatively sumptuous production.

Probable Genre(s)

Tragi-comedy (Harbage); the story material would indicate a series of generically mixed playlets bound by the frame story of the seven masters and their tales.

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

The story cycle known variously as The Seven Wise Masters and The Seven Sages of Rome is as ancient as Sanskrit, Persian, and Hebrew, languages in which analogues existed. One story of its origin attributes it to the Indian philosopher Sindibad/Syntipas in the first century CE (Wikipedia).

Michael L. Hays compiled a list of the manuscripts and printings extant for The Seven Sages [Wise Masters] of Rome, which had been written c. 1300-1333. Those most likely to have been available to Chettle, Day, Dekker, and Haughton are the following:

• Purfoot, 1576 (STC 21299.3
• Ross, 1578 (STC 21254
• Smith, 1592 (STC 21255)

The Purfoot edition was printed again twice in 1602 (STC 21299.5, 21299.7), perhaps evidence of the perennial popularity of the story set.

Critical Commentary

Foakes notes (as Greg does not) that the entry on 1 March 1600 (above) is entirely in Birde's hand; that the signature for the entry of 8 March is Rowley's; and the second entry above for £8 is entirely in Shaa's hand (131, 132).

Knutson, "Toe to Toe."

Works Cited

Gurr

Knutson

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 30 October 2009.